Moving to a new location can be difficult for anyone, but if you’re traveling to your future home with a horse, there are plenty of additional hurdles you’ll have to overcome. Adapting to a new environment can be especially hard on a horse, not to mention the obstacles associated with the physical transportation process of the move. Even before you move, you should be keeping an eye out for barns and stables with distinct features that will benefit your horse, and consider cities with geographical advantages to owning a horse. If you’re a horse owner who is preparing or planning to move, take a look at these relocating tips that can help this process be much easier for you and your horse:Property hunting
First things first: When you’re planning on making a big move with a horse, you need to find a property that’s accommodating to your animal. This means figuring out whether you’re going to host your barn or stable on the property of your home or in another nearby location. Boarding facilities are necessary for those moving who may need a temporary housing solution for their horse, and can serve as a solid shelter option if you’re still building your own personal stable or barn on your property.
When it comes to what to look out for when buying horse-friendly property, you’ll want to start out with the overall accessibility of the land. How does the land look? If there are weeds all over the place, it might not serve as the best grazing option for horses. Make sure to scope the land out for any signs of toxic plants. Properties with trees spread out are great for providing shade, especially if you’re moving to a warmer climate. Also consider whether the property is accommodating to your vehicles. Land that is easy to enter and exit out of in your truck and trailer is obviously a better choice for transporting your horse as well as delivering massive amounts of hay. Water supply is an often overlooked part of choosing a horse-friendly property, so make sure that water is also easily accessible when considering new properties.
Sort your belongings
While you’ll definitely want to try to keep all the horse care products and accessories you’ve accumulated over the years, sometimes it’s inevitable that you’ll have to part ways with some of them. This is why you should start packing at least a few weeks in advance, so you can get a better picture of how much room you’ll have in your trailer or vehicle to fill with horse-related equipment. If you find that you must get rid of a few horse care products, have a barn sale or post them on the Internet so you can put the money toward your big move.
Transporting the horse
After you’ve found the property of your dreams comes the tricky part: Transporting your horse to a new home can be a stressful experience for both you and your animal. The longer drive your horse will have to endure, the more anxious and tense it can become, which may result in temporary psychological side effects. If your horse lacks experience in being hauled in a trailer, take it for a few practice drives prior to the big move so it’s at least familiar with the process.
Of course, you’ll want to stock your trailer with ample amounts of feed and water, while also monitoring the horse’s eating habits. According to independent research, a horse’s appetite can drastically decrease if it is experiencing mental stress. This is where adding some horse supplements into its meals may come in handy, as it will give the horse the vitamins and minerals it needs in its diet. Ultra Fire™ does wonders for supplying your horse with high potencies of multivitamin and mineral sources, and can help improve your horse’s diet on the road.
Adapting to a new environment
Once you’ve finally arrived at your new property, it’s time to start letting your horse adjust to the surroundings as quickly as possible. Provide your horse with a few days to roam the premises by itself, as you immediately help it become familiar with everything from the feeding location to the interior of the stable. Before you know it, your horse will begin to get a better feel and appreciation for its new environment!